R.E. Sheahan’s Storm Of Arranon books are a blend of YA Fantasy and Science Fiction. The worlds are fantastical and filled with wonderous creatures and genuine characters.

Come on in. Check them out.

Enjoy my reviews.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

~~~~~

Allies And Enemies

Storm Of Arranon #3

by R.E. Sheahan

Genre: YA Fantasy / Science Fiction

My Review

It’s always difficult to review a next book in a series, but here goes!

What a rush. The suspense starts right from the get go. A key character is attacked and lies in a coma, slowly dying from a mysterious poison. The only one who can save him is their most dangerous enemy.

Both worlds are threatened by one beings arrogance and lust for power.

Trust is in low supply and appearances aren’t what they seem.

Friends will betray friends and some enemies will become allies.

Not everyone will survive the war to come.

A compelling story line and taut writing drive this action packed story to a fast and furious ending. I can’t count on two hands how many times I held my breath as I read on, worried about what would or wouldn’t happen next.

The blend of fantasy and science fiction lends much to this story of two worlds, fantastical creatures, mysterious forces, and danger around every corner.

Love, loyalty, and honor keep these character’s going when it looks like all hope is lost. Many of my favorite ones are back in this third chapter and some new ones appear to love or loathe. All have a strong presence and feel genuine, flaws and baggage included.

I should tell you that you can read this third story without having read the first two. The author easily fills in most of previous events fluidly and in the right places to keep you from becoming confused and the story flowing smoothly. That being said, I’d recommend you read the others first. Why miss all the fun!

And the ending. It was so good, but I warn you, while it’s not a cliffhanger, the author drops in a “what the ? just happened” that will have you anxiously wanting the next book. A little birdie told me it’s in the works and shouldn’t be too far away.

5 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

A vicious attack on life and love. A race to deny death. Trust blurs and alliances break. The chase begins.
A powerful evil threatens the natural balance of Arranon, endangering all that lives. No less important to Captain Erynn Yager, a life treasured above her own hovers in a coma, close to death.
In a race to uncover a cure and stop the mounting peril, Erynn risks everything—becoming the hunted. She challenges authority and allies herself with a being others believe a mortal enemy. In pursuit of the true evil, Erynn finds the line blurred between those they trust and those set against them.
Answers remain beyond reach.
Erynn embraces her abilities, joining her will with the living consciousness of Arranon. Her authority and confidence rises, and she strikes out against a murderous cruelty—becoming the hunter.

The story takes place in the future. The daughter of a famous general, Erynn is in training to be an interceptor fighter pilot. A sudden betrayal reveals an alien species has infiltrated the government at its highest levels. They want to harvest the planets of Korin and Arranon for their resources, which means total annihilation. With betrayal everywhere Erynn and her friends are not sure who to trust anymore.

Forced to flee Korin and seek safety on Arranon, Erynn learns about the mystery of her origins and her ability of Prophesy. She begins to understand her connection to the planet. A secret forced upon her since childhood may hold the key to saving both planet if only she can unlock it in time.

What an adventure! It is fantasy and science fiction all rolled up in one.

I really enjoyed reading Storm of Arranon. All of the characters are well-developed and understandable and the world building is almost visual without being too complicated and overshadowing the plot.

Erynn’s connection to the animals on Arranon was fun to read. I kept trying to envision what a Capora looked like – maybe a cross between a yak and a horse? And the Maejen, maybe a giant species of timber wolf?

R.E. Sheahan does a superb job of world building. She shows you the planets, their inhabitants and their cities, revealing an earnest desire for you to easily understand and enter these worlds.

If you have seen Avatar and remember how the flora and fauna all glowed with iridescent,brilliant colors, that is how I picture the Anim Blath.

They are alive, sentient, and they speak to Erynn, sing to her. Like the living voice of Arranon.

There is a budding romance between Jaer and Erynn, but the author kept it in its place. It was not the focal point of the plot but did add to my interest.

Storm of Arranon has magic, action, good and evil, friendship and romance, with an out of this world flavor. I think young readers and adults will enjoy this story. So well written, I was surprised that this was R.E. Sheahan’s debut novel. This story can stand alone and the ending is very satisfying. I am happy to hear there will be more. A great beginning to a series.

4 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

Beneath Erynn’s petite build, curly red hair, and startling blue eyes, lies a deeply hidden secret.If the truth about her were revealed, her life would be in danger. Her dream to be a fighter pilot would tailspin, crash, and burst into flames.

Jaer’s wise brown eyes reflect his smoldering strength. An enigma, charismatic and moody, he is a physically powerful warrior who defends his world. A warrior afraid to love because of mistakes in his past.

When the presence of a marauding alien society is discovered on their planets, a struggle of life and death begins. Both Erynn and Jaer’s worlds face annihilation.

A mysterious force plunges Erynn into Jaer’s cold, dangerous, and beautiful world with its magical essence and living consciousness. Both the alien enemy and this strange inexplicable power purse Erynn.

I’m going to do my best to tell you about Fire and Ice, Book Two, without giving any spoilers. You’ve been warned:)

How about I give you a taste of the opening to this awesome sequel!

“A high piercing scream ripped through the icy air and echoed along the dark intersecting tunnels. The shrieking faded and died.”

Right away I’m entranced! Read on.

“Possession was a painful adjustment.

For the one being possessed.

Dhoran smiled. He felt the corners of the host’s lips jerk in a reluctant response.

Resistance is useless.

Dhoran stared down at his new body. Sensations dead for nearly two decades rushed through him. ….A light sweetness lingered in his mouth and he licked full lips, finding more of this spicy syrupiness. His tongue darted across even teeth blunted with flat surfaces for grinding. He frowned.

There will be no rip and tear to this bite.

Dhoran raised his hands and glared down at the shape and size of them….he missed the thick claws and taut muscles that had rippled under the glossy red-gold scales of his body.”

The evil Dhoran is back and up to some new tricks.

I was introduced to the world of Arranon in Storm of Arranon, Book One. I made many friends and was fascinated by the world R.E. Sheahan built.

The first book won my heart and imagine how happy I was to find Fire and Ice was even better. The author’s writing is tighter, more showing then telling. This is excellent as I would love to be able to see Erynn’s world of Arranon. You almost can.

I love the world beneath the surface of Arranon, the soul of the planet. Yes, the planet is alive, and the connection to Erynn is strong. The exotic visual descriptions of flora and fauna had my imagination spinning.

One of my favorite creatures are the wolves. I have a thing for the beautiful creatures and I could just see them so clearly.

My favorite characters, Erynn and Jaer, along with some others, are back. And there’s a new one that will keep you guessing. I’d like to know more of this one’s story.

If you haven’t read the first book, the good news is you will still love this one. The author gives you enough background to fill you in.

There’s more danger, action, and suspense too. Erynn’s determination to protect Arranon has made her mature and step up her game, keeping you so wrapped up in Fire and Ice. Dhoran’s lust for power, to rule the world, is formidable. The many characters enrich the story and bring it all to life.

The battles are intense, but not too graphic, and the romance is light, with no sexual scenes. I would recommend this to everyone.

A wonderous continuance in the addictive story of Arranon and it’s fate.

5 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

Newly commissioned Interceptor fighter pilot, Erynn Yager, knows sacrifice. Her battle against a brutal alien enemy intent on destroying her two worlds set her on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, all while struggling to gain control of her secret abilities. With the alien threat crushed, Erynn believes the worst is behind her. She settles in to experience first love and a changed life on a hidden military base deep inside a glacier covered mountain on Arranon.

Her peaceful existence can’t last.

Dhoran, the evil sovereign of Arranon’s underworld has risen from the dead to possess an unwilling human. Dhoran’s powers grow while he plots a war that may plunge Arranon onto a path of destruction neither realm will survive. Arranon is pulled into chaos as violence spreads across the planet.

Drawn first in visions, Erynn enters a diverse world beneath Arranon’s surface, a realm teeming with danger, mystery, and beauty. The battle thrusts her into an uncharted kingdom, intensifying her connection to the heart and soul of the living Arranon.

Before I wrote, I read. Voraciously. When I wasn’t able to read, I listened to audio books on tape or CD. Still do.
Hi. My name is Robynn E Sheahan and I live and write from the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

I started to dabble in writing while working as a Paramedic/Firefighter in Northern California. Trust me, it’s not like it appears on TV. There was plenty of time for books.
Ideas from dreams follow me into warm sunny days or the quiet of falling snow. What ifs feed a vivid imagination. Even miss-typed phrases may lead to an aha moment. Brain storming sessions standing in windy, dark parking lots with fellow writers release thoughts that pry at the corners of my mind, grasping for purchase. Sometimes the ideas pursue me, with persistence.
About three years ago the dabbling became serious when worlds and characters screamed for, no, demanded attention. So I wrote my first manuscript. Critiques and rewrites filled the next two years.
I now had STORM OF ARRANON, the first book in the series.

What I LOVE about science fiction is all the amazing ideas regarding surgery & ways to cure diseases such as an injection of a microscopic “thingy” that goes throughout your body and cures any ailment. Plus all the interesting gadgets that are probably not that far off in our future. The ideas of space travel where astronauts go in a special pod and sleep for many years without aging such a cool idea. These are just a few of the things about science fiction that blows my mind! Now, I just read a new book called THE HIKE by Drew Magary that has greatly spiked my interest in fantasy. With made-up creatures and other ideas that completely changed my thoughts on that genre.

I love reading science fiction and fantasy books because they are full of imagination and dreams. I love how they transport you to a whole new world, full of excitement and magic and wonder. I love how they make you feel, and how you start to wonder if there is some magic hidden in our world.

I love that you can escape completely into a world that wouldn’t exist at all if it weren’t for the author. All stories are a piece of the author, but fantasy and science fiction are also often a part of the author’s personal world. It’s magical to read words off a page and be suddenly taken into something that only a short time ago only existed in one person’s brain. Books are so much more than words on a page, they are portals, and nothing exemplifies that more than science fiction and fantasy books.